Comment on Kathleen’s blog:
http://kathleenpbrown.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/how-can-pr-help-you/#comments
Comment on Olivia’s Blog:
http://oliviaclements.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/very-pinteresting/#comment-10
Comment on Sarah Bell’s Blog:
http://sarahbellpr.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/benefits-of-blogging/#comment-6
Intro to PR has been my first experience with blogging. I was familiar with the process, but I had never participated in it. To my surprise there were many things I enjoyed about blogging, and I would like to continue blogging past Intr to PR.
The characteristic of blogging I most enjoyed was the freedom associated with it. I enjoyed not being confined to grammatical rules. The process of blogging works more like a journal than a structured essay. This quality made it easier for me to express my opinions about our suggessted topics.
The only thing I would change about my blogging experience this semester would be the topic suggestions. I thought some of the topics elicited a distinct response. It was hard to express creativity when the prompts required a specific answer. I would have preferred more open-ended prompts such as, “Why are you interested in public relations?” or “Describe an encounter where your experiences in pr proved to be useful.”
I plan to continue blogging outside of school. Blogging can be a considerably useful tool when you want to record the happenings of a particular event (http://blog.louisgray.com/2009/03/how-to-blog-live-events-and-publish.html). Blogging can also be useful for personal journaling needs. Whichever way you employ blogging, it is a great way to exercise your writing skills and creativity (http://www.gatekeeperspost.com/uncategorized/improve-writing-creativity-and-productivity-by-blogging/).
Many people can grasp the concept of public relations in a sarcastic definition of “relating to publics.” But what does this mean exactly? PRSA defines public relations as a service to help an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other. Many people do not understand the importance of effective communication through the use of pr.
An Introduction to PR course may be helpful and applicable to many different majors. No matter what career field you are aspiring for you are more than likely going to communicate with others on a daily basis. So why not learn how to communicate effectively? An Introduction to PR course would teach those not studying communications how to approach a crisis, communicate with superiors, and communicate with clients or patrons.
According to MediaBuzz several helpful pr skills include time management , proper phone etiquette, computer skills, detail-orientation, and organization. These skills may be applied to many different career fields or personal endeavors. In order to be successful one must know how to conduct themselves in an appropriate and professional manner and learning basic pr strategies may help acquire these skills.
Taking a basic intro to PR course will help aspiring professionals in all walks of life learn how to communicate properly to their desired publics or superiors. PR is an important part of the business world and everyone should at least be familiar with what it is and what it can do for an entity or an individual.
http://mediabuzz.monster.com/benefits/articles/600-public-relations-skills-you-need-to-succeed
The last five movies and concerts I saw attracted my attention through different strategic advertisements. Traditional public relations tactics may still achieve an audience by the use of fliers, emails and word of mouth strategies. However, new age and interactive strategies prove to be successful in certain circumstances as well.
I attended a concert in September, which I originally heard about through a Ticket Master email list. I signed up to be on the Ticket Master email list, so I would be notified for artists I would want to see. I always check the emails to make sure I won’t miss any good shows. The system proves to be effective to get my attention, and I frequently attend concerts advertised by Ticket Master. The website provides a feature where you can select your favorite artists or teams, and Ticket Master will notify you when they’re in the area. This strategy is modern, interactive, and effective.
www.ticketmaster.com
Another concert I attended in the past month caught my attention solely through Facebook. I saw the event on Facebook and immediately purchased a ticket. This concert was not promoted through a popular event site. It was solely promoted through Facebook, word of mouth, and fliers. I think this approach worked for this particular event, because it was a concert aimed toward college students. Word of mouth tactics were effective, because the student body was made aware of the event.
http://www.facebook.com/glorydayspresents
I’ve seen several movies in the past months, which were advertised through televised trailers. However, all the movies I’ve paid to see in theaters also had significant word of mouth exposure. I am more likely to see a movie if my friends want to see it with me, so a movie has to gain both the attention of myself and my peers. Public relations tactics for movies may be traditional and original through visual production and word of mouth success.
I think both traditional and modern public relations tactics are effective. The effectiveness depends on an ad’s penetration to its target audience. In small communities, like college towns, word of mouth is an acceptable method to gain awareness, but larger events may require more modern techniques to maximize impressions.
This video is a PSA against teenage and young adult binge drinking. I think the video was slightly dramatic in the presentation of the teenager’s behavior. However, the video accomplished getting the point across. America is a society which places strong emphasis on physical appearance, and no one would want to feel as if they portray the teenager in the video.
According to the CDC approximately 90% of underage people who consume alcohol do so in the form of binge drinking. Obviously binge drinking is common among American youth, so the issue presented in this video is real and relevant.
The video employs several factors of persuasive communication. The video shows a call to action through a clear message asking young adults to know their limits with alcohol. The timing and context of the PSA is also appropriate, because binge drinking is obviously a problem among American teens and young adults.
I believe this message is effective, because it presents a serious problem in a ridiculous way. The girl’s impulses are dramatic, but every binge drinker watching this message can assimilate her behavior to a night of their own binge drinking. No one should want to be that person coming home disheveled. As the message states, ” You wouldn’t start a night like this, so why end it this way?” The message is presented in a dramatic and ridiculous way, because many participators of binge drinking present themself in the same light while intoxicated.
References:
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm
http://thethinkspot.com/PR-2011/chapters/8
Wilcox, D. L., Cameron , G. T., Reber, B. H., & Shin, J. (2011). Think: public relations. (pp. 26- 27). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Public relations is a word that everyone has heard, but few know exactly what it is. Public relations, as defined by PRSA, “helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.” The key behind successful pr is effective communication. Pr may be closely related to travel, especially when compared to the job of a flight attendant.
A flight attendant’s job is to ensure the comfort of the airplane passengers. He or she must effectively communicate between the cockpit and the passengers. Often times distraught customers will look to the flight attendant for words of comfort. The flight attendant must always stay calm and collected in order to keep the passengers under control.
Ever since the terrorist attacks on September 11th, many people have been fearful of flying. It is the job of the flight attendant to effectively communicate with passengers in order to ease their nerves. In case of an emergency it is also the flight attendants duty to stay calm and direct passengers to safety.
According to College Board, hopeful flight attendants may stand out from the competition if they focus on perfecting verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Flight attendants must stay compliant in communication. They must be willing to meet every need of their passengers just as a pr professional would satisfy the needs of their desired publics.
Pr skills are applicable to the duties of a flight attendant. Both a pr professional and a flight attendant must be effective communicators and crisis managers in order to keep their publics or passengers satisfied.
http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/careers/105954.html
Though journalism and public relations both refer to jobs in communications, the two fields differentiate through various aspects.
In order to become either a successful journalist or a successful public relations practioner one must have credible experience in their respective field. Many say a degree is not required for either profession as long as the talent and skill is there, but a degree is encouraged in order to establish your credibility.
The major difference between the two fields is the job outlook. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a six percent decrease in journalism careers over the next six years. Many newspapers and periodicals are switching their focus to online readership meaning fewer journalists are needed to fulfill the world’s news needs.
However, the pr industry is expected to have a growth of 13 percent over the next six years. This may mean that many once proclaimed journalists are swaying over to the growing field of pr. The question then becomes, “Is a journalist fully qualified to take on the roles of a pr professional?”
Public relations is an industry jaded by the media’s illusions of fame, glitz and glamour. Very few people realize the duties a pr professional must fulfill as well as the strict code of ethics one must follow. Former journalists enter the field of pr without full knowledge of the skill set and ethical standards. The job is more than writing press releases and blogposts; pr involves strategy.
Public relations has broadened beyond media relations, and many of the writing required in pr today is for controlled media, or a specific set of readers. The only journalists who are successful in pr are the ones willing to adapt and acquire skills in using pr tools appropriately.
From an ethical standpoint, journalists may be successful if they are aware of all the laws they must follow. Most journalists have a significant understanding of what defamation is. However, when a journalist enters the field of pr they may not realize the complexity of ethical codes. Pr professionals must be conscious of libel and slander, but they must also be aware of trademark law, copyright laws, infringement, fair use, and appropriate employee communications.
References:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos020.htm
Wilcox, D. L., Cameron , G. T., Reber, B. H., & Shin, J. (2011). Think: public relations. (pp. 26- 27). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
In recent years the public relations industry has seen tremendous growth. The overwhelming fascination with the business is certainly due to the glamorous portrayal of pr jobs through television and other media. Many attribute the work of a pr professional to that of Samantha Jones from Sex in the City or to many of today’s reality shows featured on E! or MTV. Though these shows project public relations to be a life filled with glitz, glamour, and riches, not all pr professions will resemble an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians. True pr professionals must be dedicated communicators and crisis managers.
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) states that, “public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.” Some may not be able to define the context behind this definition, but PRSA also explains the qualities behind an effective pr professional. Someone in the pr industry must be in-touch with public opinion, be able to counsel management through decision-making and organizational tactics, perform effective research and evaluation methods, and be able to plan and develop goals for an entity (http://www.prsa.org/AboutPRSA/PublicRelationsDefined/).
In addition to acquiring a specific skill set a pr professional must also be prepared to work long and unpredictable hours. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “over 80 percent of …public relations… managers worked 40 hours or more a week.” This profession may also require significant time for travel, which may be difficult for those professionals with families (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos020.htm#emply).
Though public relations may be a very exciting career, it is not all it appears to be on television. Aside from all the glitz and glamour, public relations is a very strategic and competitive field. A person must be aware of the work as well as the play.
